MEMPHIS — Cam Reddish obtained a shock likelihood on the rotation and took full benefit.
The younger wing not solely scored 22 factors in simply 28 minutes of Wednesday’s defeat to the Grizzlies, he nailed a game-tying trey to ship the sport into OT.
“Let me say it like this: I do know what I can do,” Reddish stated, “I wished to ensure I nonetheless obtained it.”
Acquired final season for a first-round decide, Reddish’s minutes had been a sizzling matter throughout coaching camp as a result of there was no path to enjoying time. It was no secret Tom Thibodeau favored Quentin Grimes’ defensive prowess, and the Knicks couldn’t agree on an extension for Reddish earlier than Monday’s deadline.
However Grimes’ sore foot was extra of a difficulty than the Knicks hoped. For the primary time Wednesday, Thibodeau acknowledged a setback after Grimes logged 16 scoreless minutes in final week’s preseason finale.
Grimes stated soreness returned over the weekend.
“I feel I wasn’t actually supposed to return again that early but it surely began feeling actually good,” Grimes stated. “I practiced two instances earlier than that and it was pain-free. And after the sport it sort of flared up once more and we’re being extra cautious with it.”
Grimes stated assessments dominated out a fracture however confirmed irritation and so they’re managing the harm so it doesn’t flip into “one thing like” plantar fasciitis.
“They stated it was sort of an overuse factor,” Grimes stated. “Simply being within the health club rather a lot. Coming again at evening, going again to Houston [in the summer], engaged on it and dealing on it. Then Thibs had us within the [gym] for positive, figuring out. Overusing it, for positive. It was an overuse factor actually.”
Reddish struggled in preseason amid Grimes’ absence, taking pictures simply 21.4 % over 4 video games whereas averaging 4.3 factors in 15.3 minutes.
The season opener was a special story.
“Simply getting extra snug, get with my teammates, my teammates encouraging me all through the sport, Julius [Randle] telling me to be aggressive. That goes a good distance,” Reddish stated. Clearly, being traded mid-year is hard. New group of fellows, new performs, new all the things. Simply looking for my method, be aggressive, be assertive. I’m attempting to make the proper play.”
MITCH’S FOUL TROUBLE
Beginning heart Mitchell Robinson managed simply 13 minutes in Memphis as a result of he racked up fouls at an alarming fee.
“I obtained to be higher,” he stated. “Minor setback. I’m going to take full duty on that one.”
Newcomer Isaiah Hartenstein performed effectively with nearly all of time at heart, contributing 16 factors and eight boards in 40 minutes.
“I’m all the time going to play onerous,” Hartenstein stated. “That’s what I believed I dropped at the sport.”
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